Unitary manifold and independent interlocking grid construction for water filtration systems



[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS William A. Oden Temple City, California United States Patent [72] Inventor Patented Getz?, 1970 'A 3,536,195

Sheet 1 of3 INVENTOR BY W/L MM ,4.025,11

Patented oct. 27, 1970 INVENTOR BY IMM/4M 4. 025A/ fd M vrom/E15 UNITARY MANIFOLD AND INDEPENDENT INTERLOCKING GRID CONSTRUCTION FOR WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS This invention relates to water filtration systems such as are used in swimming pools and the like, and which with periodic supply of diatomaceous earth, employs a water manifold having mounted substantially concentric thereon, a plurality of spaced grid filter elements covered at faces thereof with skins of water-porous synthetic material. The general type of manifold and spaced filter grid construction to which this invention relates includes with a general reverse-current, backwash filter-cleansing operation, a torque-applying medium such as a crank for revolving the manifold and the filter grids mounted thereon during the backwash operation.

Prior art manifold and grid structures of the general type providing for rotation during backwash cleansing, fall generally into two classes known as tube-type" and rodtype respectively. In both types no provision is made for any interlocking relationship of the grid elements or spacer ele-v ments, individually to the manifold proper.

In the tube type of the prior art the hollow manifold tube has communication radially at numerous points with the grid structure, and the grids and intervening spacer elements are clamped together longitudinally of the tube by forward and rear retaining clam'ping rings or the like. Distribution of the incoming water to the grid elements is somewhat haphazard and is not controlled .by any divisions or means for setting up separate and distinct columns during travel through the manifold, as in our improved structure.

ln the rod type of manifold, spacers and discs, an outlet adapter of annular form (separate from the manifold) is provided, which has a spider or central element screw threaded or otherwise secured to the axial rod and a pinned retainer plate clamps the grid and spacer elements against the inner annular edge of the separate outlet adapter to inefficiently interconnect the parts without any provision of positive interlocking of grid elements or spacer elements with the overall manifold structure. The structure elements themselves, constitute the main portions of the manifold. Here again there is no provision in the manifold for dividing water flow either in the normal incoming water flow or in a backwash cleansing operation to provide for even distribution by columns of water.

In both types of the prior art manifold and grid structures the clamping force applied to the clamped axial ring portions of the grid elements is severe, and with wear fracture of said elements or injury or loosening of the grids often occurs.

My invention has, for a main object the provision of a plurality of longitudinal support ribs guiding the incoming volume of water into a plurality of equal and independent columns which in turn are exhausted into the segmental chambers of the element support grids. This not only provides for a predetermined and equally divided passage of water when the water is first exhausted into the filtration chamber, but furthermore in the backwash cleaning operation assures a more thorough cleansing of the porous filter elements on the grids.

Another important object is to provide, in a single unitary manifold device capable of being very economically manufactured, an outlet adapter or area, a rib grid support and positive locking area, and a rotational crank adapter.

A further object is to overcome the previouslyI noted objections to the prior art structures wherein a single manifold unit is provided to replace and improve, and better prior art structures. and where grids as well as the spacers are maintained in a locked position to evenly distribute rotational force to the grid and spacer elements.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my improved unitary manifold with central portions only of the spaced filter grids being shown in operative position, one of the grid elements and a spacer element being applied to the manifold with the remaining portion of the manifold exposed;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the manifold with with grids and spacers removed, and showing the outlet adapter;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; v

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG.l, showing interlocking and partition-forming ribs;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the manifold showing the crank adapter and retaining ring end; f

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of one of the grid eley ments detached with most lof the covering filter sheet-broken away;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing the grid structure;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view mostly in vertical section and on a reduced scale of my improved combinative structure assembles with the crank attached to the adapter at the forward end of the manifold and with the device ready for backwash cleansing of the filter and grid elements; and

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of one of the spacer elements detached.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I provide a unitary, preferably single unit manifold indicated as an `entirety by the letter M, having an elongate body composed of a plurality of preferably integrally formed ribs I0 extending through the greater part of the overall manifold length and extending in cross-sectional shape radially from a common, longitudinal center line. In the embodiment illustrated, four of said ribs l0 are employed, being of equal width and straight in length t'o form elongate divider partitions for water passing generally axially through the manifold and the filter grids mounted thereon.

Manifold M has an outlet adapter and area 11 constituting the front end portion thereof, having a cylindrical periphery lla provided with an external circular groove 11b and a tapered extremity llc. An upstanding annular grid-abutment shoulder 11d is provided forwardly of cylindrical periphery I 1a.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, narrowed rib extensions 10a extend internally through the outlet dividing the interior thereof into four equal segmental passages 12. The rib extensions 10a do not extend fully to the annular extremity of outlet l1 as well be clear from inspection of FIG. 3.

At the opposite and rear end portion of manifold M, a combination adapter 13 is provided for receiving and securing respectively, an annular grid retainer R and a crank handle C, having a square internal socket end C-l for interlocking engagement with the outer squared end portion 13a of the adapter 13. As shown, the inner end portion 13b is externally threaded to engage and lock with the internal threads of annular grid retainer R. A circular shoulder 13e of somewhat larger diameter than threaded portion 13b serves as a reinforcement for the elongate, segmental channels defined by the four ribs 10. It will be noted that the diameter of shoulder 13e` is considerably less than the combined widths of two aligned integral ribs l0.

A plurality of large diameter, foraminous grid elements designated as entireties by the letter G are provided, having continuous circular peripheral edges G-I and thickened and concentric interior mounting collars G-2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Collars G-2, at their inner circular edges are notched to form rib-interlocking elements G-3 equally spaced apart and corresponding in number to the four manifold ribs l0.

The two faces of the foraminous grids G are covered with filter sheets F-S of conventional type, water-porous fabric. Sheets F-S are centrally apertured to surround the mounting collar G-2 of the grid elements.

In assembling the components of my manifold and grid structure the grid elements G and spacer elements S are alternately and successively axially slid over the crank adapter 13 of the integral manifold, the open grid mounting collar portions G-2 being properly turned to cause interlocking engage- Y n Wouterportionsofthe ribs 10V` ally disposed of `thefeijank` `1 adapter 132i with the interlocking i fotches. S-11 being .properly `aligned for ,interlocking lvilitli `the 1 Y L The nm grid elemento appiiedisfsiiafid'a@man in but linentag'ainst theabi'itrnent shoulder l ldof theoutletadapt'e against thencen'tr v grid. Successivegri and spacer elementsjare'ithen applied,1it

` bei'riglv fof v'courseunderstoodthat,1in mo'stfinstances to y economizeffor maximalxfiltration, agrid.element is disposed'i cllarrbeingfpositionfor engagemengby'ftheopposing faceof the retaining threaded lmemberRlfCrank handleC is rusually Q.

` rigidly yconnectedwithfthe squaredlendld f theadapterlby;fy Y Isuitablelineanslsuc asasetse'rewltransversely carried squarefsocket C-jl. @Fromtlie foregoingf Y structure a singlefiinitjmanifold ispijovdedcapableofbeingj..l economicallymanufactured Yby pinjectiornV` molding'or casting i ,l l from avarietyoffplasti'c, alloyandcornpsitionmaterialrlie I user-offpolyvinylchloiiidefor yinjectionmolding oftheeritire l manifold has; been proven highlysuccessful. Of course i the l i lofthespacerelernent's.-` i a L l. .i p llt will berseenrth in travel of the waterthrough.manifoldinl `eitherdirection; tlielwateris divided by ribsjlointhelforin glf shown)into forequalcolunins, passing la turn throughthe` "I four segmentalp economically tha manifold vgrid and spacerjstructures nowin extensiveuseand willas'sure a* better distribution of the water;y 45

` to e filtered,l and alsowater for backwash purposes, than any ofthe priory art structures known to applic ant.y

i Noclampingipressure ,isi tilized to `interc ;riii^e :t jgifids,i i spacersiandinanifold,as in the structures of theprior artgz" lltlvill of course beunderstood that variouschangesgrnay beV madeinrthe de tailsand.l substitution? of 'equivalenciesg irigtl'ieiv parts providedrtheyarecoveredin tl'ieappendedv or amended; (i

clainisoftliis application. f-

\ vl clairn:

The adjacent` spacer element: S Yis then ap'pliedwand abutted'; l J

f l. 'In a :water ltration 'system employing in a filtrationV `chamben'a pluralityofspaced, filter grid discs; annular spacer elementabetween said discs'ia'nd manifold means for coaxally mountingsaid grids'and'spacerelenientg those improvements which have incombination; d

`a unitary manifold -memberihavingranputlet area at vone of VVitlendportions andlhavngjfga*crossfsectionally smaller` l" "crank adapter elementat its-opposite end-portions; saidima'nifold irieinberthroughY most `of'its length, comprising a plurality of multi-functional joined longitudinal ribs l exteridingjny cross sectionY substantially radially fromV a Vcommonlongitudinal centerlneLand extending longitufdinallyat.leastpartly'jthrough saidputletarea to divide` the interiorthereofinto a-pluijality of independent watery i5 Y' y "passages: Y

about Vthe peripheiesof saidjribsand being internally notched at the edges definingzisaid apertures at spaced pointsseorresponding to -tlie numbery 1o f said ribs, `for slidably receiving theouter portions of said ribs when said 1" discsgareaxially applied'over'said adapter end portion of l saidmanifold rnember toiiiterlockvr lsaiddiscs inspaced Vreinforcing relation uponsaid'ribs,

. between said discs; and l saidlribsf, whenflowof waterss set through saidbutlet r passage,` dividing said flow into a plurality of independent Vcoliii'iins which in turnrexhaustr-into `si'egmental'cliambeis 2. The structure set fortli and defined inclaim lwhereina i .i tubular v manifoldV member Vincluding?` said `outlet l jarea,` `said crank adapter,elementiaridr said ribsf, is integrally formed from substai'itially rigid material."Y

3. The `structure set forthand defined inclaini l further V charac terizedby,V said outlet areahaving inwardly disposed-of its '-lterminallportion, Vanoutstanding abutment shoulder of v'somewhat larger diameter thanthe axial apertures of said disc l foraabutment with said discabout said apertures, and an annu- Y laijYretaining element fixedly engageable` withfsaid crank r adapter portioriand positionedtorviiubstantial abutment againsta'disc at the opposite end'of said manifold.

4. `The structurefdened in claim l wherein said `annular f spacereler'nents are; internally notchedisimilarly to said grid discsifornonrotative; interlockingwiththe outer portions of said ribs. 1 v

`5. The structure setfoijthy anddefin'ed claim l further` character-iisd byat least said crankadapter, said outlet area ands'aidkrnanifoldbeing integrally lforined,.and said annular spacer elements hai/ing axial apertures of somewhatsmaller diameter'tlian a'circle circiimscribed about the `periplieries of i said ribs lariilbeiiig internallybnotchedat the apertured edge `at spaced points corresponding to the number of said ribs.`

Y hayirigf,concentric,` axial4 apertures of somewhat smallerldia'meterthan a circle circuniscribed and means `for fmountiii'gsaid' annular .spacer Velements 

